From the sayings of Emperor Haile Selassie I (Jah Rastafari):
Last May, in Addis Ababa, I convened a meeting of Heads of African States and Governments. In three days, the thirty-two nations represented at that Conference demonstrated to the world that when the will and the determination exist, nations and peoples of diverse backgrounds can and will work together. In unity, to the achievement of common goals and the assurance of that equality and brotherhood which we desire.On the question of racial discrimination, the Addis Abba Conference taught, to those who will learn, this further lesson:
That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned; That until there are no longer first-class and second class citizens of any nation; That until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes; That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race; That until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained; And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed; Until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will; Until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven; Until that day, the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil. – Haile Selassie I
It is not good enough to fight racism, sexism, ageism. It is the attitude that certain groups of people are better than others that we must war against. In my time joining and participating in movements for black liberation, palestinian liberation, women's liberation--I've realized that it is the mentality of the people that must be liberated in order to experience true freedom.
It is an attitude--a spirit if you will--that seeks to destroy the very ones it exalts. Because we need each other to survive on this planet, the philosophy that holds white people superior to black, and men superior to women, eats away at us every day. Our people are dying every day at the hands of crooked police officers, at the frontlines of conflicts that we shouldn't even be in, on the streets chasin' paper because skin color has excluded them from gainful employment in some areas. And the anger that dwells within has bubbled over. We're attacking each other, those who don't look like us, and anyone else we feel responsible for the condition of the world today instead of the real culprit.
It is attitude that is the enemy, not our fellow people. It is the attitude that has for so long kept them in power, and us out of power, that needs to change before conditions can change.
It is the attitude that any human being can own another human being that needs to change. Marriage and dating should not equal female enslavement. Your children are not your punching bag.
We wrestle against this attitude every day, lest we all perish.
We must learn to live, and allow others to live. This is fundamental to our existence as people. No one person or group of people is better than any other. Noone deserves to be enslaved, abused, ostracized or excluded.
I've been meditating on this for a while now. I talked to a friend about the purpose of war, and the need for nations to survive.
It is my core belief that all have the right to exist and to thrive, but not at the expense of others. I don't think that the Israelis have any right to occupy Palestine. I think that when the British and American governments came up with that brilliant idea, they should have come up with some money to pay for the land they were taking away.
That's what I think.
I don't think we should be occupying Iraq. We've already overthrown Saddam and thrown them further into chaos.
But I have mixed feelings about the principles that the U.S. claims to be bringing them. Democracy is a good thing, letting the people rule rather than a dictator. They can treat their women better despite the prevalence of Islam in their culture as well.
That's what I think.
In every situation, people have so many things to say but noone wants to listen to anyone else. So we move forward in ignorance, acting out of our assumptions rather than examining all the facts. We move forward in fear, the natural progeny of ignorance, killing and destroying others because we don't know who they are but fear their ill-intentions.
Clutching our purses when a young brother approaches, moving to the other side of the street if he reaches out his hand...
Only to trip on our shoestrings halfway across because he was only trying to say, 'Sis, tie your shoe.'
Looking suspiciously at the Arab on the plane, sneering at the Mexican working at the factory. Who made us better than they? Who made us the judges?
One Creator created ALL. One is higher than you or I. Only one has the right to give or take life. To cause to exist, or to not exist.
We can say what we want, but until there is justice for all, there will be peace for none.
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